Senior PGA Championship Leaderboard Shows Patience Is Key

Brian Gay and Scott Hend lead at 10-under through 36 holes, with a mix of veterans and club pros close behind at The Concession Golf Club in Florida.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:26am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-angle view of a golf tournament scene, with overlapping planes of green, blue, and gold representing the course's lush fairways and greens. The abstract, deconstructed style captures the thoughtful, disciplined approach required to succeed at the Senior PGA Championship.The Senior PGA Championship leaderboard reflects the tournament's emphasis on strategic, patient golf rather than pure power.Bradenton Today

The Senior PGA Championship leaderboard through two rounds has a mix of decorated names and club pros, all showing that patience and smart, disciplined golf are the keys to success on the challenging Concession course. Brian Gay and Scott Hend are tied for the lead at 10-under, with veterans like Stewart Cink, Ben Crane, and Retief Goosen just two shots back. PGA of America Golf Professional Justin Hicks is also in the mix at 6-under, proving that competitive fire can still burn bright for club pros.

Why it matters

The Senior PGA Championship leaderboard is a reminder that major championship golf is about more than just power and shotmaking - it's about managing the course, avoiding mistakes, and staying steady when the conditions start to test players. This tournament is showcasing the value of patience, perspective, and smart, grown-up golf, which are important lessons for both professional and amateur players.

The details

Brian Gay shot a 68 on Friday despite a lost ball, an unplayable lie, and a double bogey, but bounced back with a birdie on 18 to stay tied for the lead. Scott Hend made two double bogeys on Thursday but responded with a 65 on Friday, crediting his strategy of hitting good tee shots, making putts, and avoiding the trouble spots. Other players like Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen, and Ben Crane have emphasized the importance of position, discipline, and avoiding big mistakes on this course that can quickly punish aggressive play.

  • The Senior PGA Championship is being held April 18-21, 2026 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.
  • After two rounds on Friday, Brian Gay and Scott Hend are tied for the lead at 10-under par.

The players

Brian Gay

A veteran PGA Tour player who shot a 68 on Friday to remain tied for the lead at 10-under par despite a lost ball, an unplayable lie, and a double bogey.

Scott Hend

An Australian player who shot a 65 on Friday to move into a tie for the lead at 10-under par, crediting his strategy of hitting good tee shots, making putts, and avoiding trouble spots.

Stewart Cink

A veteran PGA Tour player who shot a 67 on Friday to get to 8-under par, emphasizing that the par-5 holes are about position, discipline, and setting up the right third shot rather than just power.

Retief Goosen

A two-time U.S. Open champion who shot a 69 on Friday to get to 8-under par, admitting he was scrambling all day but still managed a bogey-free round by saving par from tough spots.

Justin Hicks

A PGA of America Golf Professional from Boca Raton, Florida who is tied for sixth at 6-under par, proving that competitive fire can still burn bright for club pros.

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What they’re saying

“Hit good tee shots, hole putts and stay away from the pins that can turn one small miss into a bigger mistake.”

— Scott Hend

“Some shots that look conservative are actually the correct play, because this course punishes greed in a hurry.”

— Stewart Cink

“I was scrambling all day and still signed for a bogey-free 69 because I kept saving par from ugly places.”

— Retief Goosen

“This is usually when I would be in the middle of a two-hour lesson back home. Instead, I'm spending the week proving that the competitive fire does not disappear just because a golf professional spends more days teaching than traveling.”

— Justin Hicks, PGA of America Golf Professional

What’s next

The final two rounds of the 2026 Senior PGA Championship will be played on Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20, to determine the winner.

The takeaway

The leaderboard through 36 holes of the Senior PGA Championship shows that major championship golf is about more than just power and shotmaking - it's about patience, perspective, and smart, disciplined play. The mix of decorated veterans and club pros near the top is a testament to the value of staying steady when a course like The Concession starts to challenge players, which is an important lesson for golfers of all levels.